Turn Your Event Greener by Default

Here are guidance, inspiration, and proof points for you to turn your event Greener by Default and meet your carbon reduction targets, make your menus more inclusive, and attract new attendees.

GreenBiz Success

GreenBiz partnered with Greener by Default to make the menus for all of their conferences majority plant-based, with the choice to opt into meat and dairy, saving over 50,000 lbs of CO2 and keeping attendees happy.

Benefits of Greener by Default

  • Sustainability

    Greener by Default can more than double consumption of plant-based meals, reducing catering’s carbon footprint by 40% and water footprint by 24%, while receiving positive feedback from diners.

  • Profitability

    Unlike other sustainability initiatives that require expensive investments or purchase of carbon offsets, Greener by Default is cost-neutral and can even save money on food costs.

  • Inclusivity

    Greener by Default is more inclusive of dietary needs, including allergies and cultural or religious restrictions. It also meets the skyrocketing demand for plant-based foods from Millennials, Gen Z, and BIPOC.

Better for your event, better for the planet

  • “I am definitely a meat eater and was a little nervous selecting the plant based meal option, but I truly enjoyed all of the dishes and snacks that were provided. Great job, and it has made me rethink plant based food options!”

    CleanMed 2022 Attendee

  • “The food was amazing. I didn't stop talking about it while we were there and I wish I could have the summit menu for the rest of time. Loved the plant-forward selections, they were flavorful and chickpeas are a 10/10.”

    Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council Summit Attendee

  • “I had trepidations about implementing default plant-based options, but I learned that it was easy to tweak existing menus to be plant-based. Working with Greener By Default demystified the process for me, and I would definitely promote the approach to other clients now.”

    Britta Ehnebuske, Senior Event Lead, MeetGreen

  • "We believe that great events don’t have to cost the earth...Serving veg meals by default allowed us to do better for our planet during the week-long festival while still providing a delicious dinner for the guests to enjoy.”

    Sarah Thackray, Co-Founder and Director of BeaconHouse Events

  • "While we’re well versed in zero waste and reusable materials, I had no idea how big of an impact food had on the carbon impact of an event. Now, by working with GBD, we’ve been able to provide our clients with menus that are first and foremost delicious, and also meet their sustainability goals.’"

    Megan Teixeira, Senior Director, Marketing and Experiential, Green Living Enterprises

Check out our resource guides for detailed implementation strategies:

Are attendees RSVPing to your event? A simple change to the registration form can make a huge difference in people’s food choices. Plus, tips for working with caterers to create delicious, satisfying menus.

Are you serving food buffet style? Here are easy best practices to encourage people to fill their plates with plant-forward options. Plus, tips for working with caterers to create flavorful, filling options.

Contact us today to put your best food forward

We will provide consultation, menus and recipes, marketing and educational materials, sourcing assistance, and impact calculations.